PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Saki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joey Mendozagonzlez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Saki
vs
Mendozagonzlez

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Saki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joey Mendozagonzlez!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mendozagonzlez is looking to clinch but Saki is avoiding it.
Saki shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Mendozagonzlez defends it nicely.
Mendozagonzlez tries to clinch up but Saki circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for Mendozagonzlez with that takedown attempt.
Saki circles away from the clinch attempt.
Mendozagonzlez shoots and misses
and Saki connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Saki fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Mendozagonzlez to the ground. Saki is now in Mendozagonzlez's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mendozagonzlez keeping moving, preventing Saki from controlling successfully.
Saki slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendozagonzlez keeps working.
Saki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mendozagonzlez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Mendozagonzlez struggling a bit here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mendozagonzlez tries to buck Saki off but Saki is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Mendozagonzlez keeps working.
Mendozagonzlez is looking to reverse the position.
Mendozagonzlez is trying to work for a sweep but Saki has mounted him!
Saki landing strikes, looking to finish!
Mendozagonzlez slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Saki stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mendozagonzlez wants to clinch.
Mendozagonzlez dives in and grabs Saki's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saki pushes down on Mendozagonzlez's head and hops out.
Ryan Saki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Mendozagonzlez.
Mendozagonzlez looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saki throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mendozagonzlez tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Saki is in Mendozagonzlez's guard.
Saki looking to pass the guard.
Saki seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mendozagonzlez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mendozagonzlez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendozagonzlez is trying to keep Saki in close.

Saki decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
No luck for Mendozagonzlez with that takedown attempt.

Mendozagonzlez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Saki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Saki forces his way into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Saki dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Saki drives through and clinches with Mendozagonzlez against the cage.
Saki tries to land a knee to the head but Mendozagonzlez blocks with his arms.
Saki jumps guard but Mendozagonzlez stands there with Saki around his waist. Saki gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saki is trying to pull guard but Mendozagonzlez turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Saki manages to break the clinch.

Saki shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Saki showed some decent athleticism there.
Saki is trying to control. Mendozagonzlez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendozagonzlez trying to control here.

Saki is looking for a kimura but Mendozagonzlez is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Saki to get the leverage.

Saki decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Mendozagonzlez shoots in for a double leg but Saki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mendozagonzlez tries to close the distance and clinch but Saki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mendozagonzlez paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Saki clinches up against the cage.
Mendozagonzlez tries to score a body lock takedown but Saki shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Mendozagonzlez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Ryan Saki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joey Mendozagonzlez.
Mendozagonzlez is breathing heavily.
Saki goes for a takedown in the clinch but Mendozagonzlez prevents it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saki working aggressively here.
Mendozagonzlez prevents the takedown attempt.

Saki breaks from the clinch.

Saki gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Saki in particular looking to stall.

Saki looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendozagonzlez tries to roll over but Saki keeps him under control.
Mendozagonzlez wants to control but Saki passes into side.
Saki advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mendozagonzlez tries to reverse the position but Saki maintains control.
Saki lands a big elbow.
Ryan Saki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mendozagonzlez takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Mendozagonzlez wants to control but Saki is having none of it.
Saki looking to control and managing it successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mendozagonzlez can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Saki dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Mendozagonzlez wants to clinch up but Saki keeps it at a distance.

Saki has taken the fight to the clinch.
Mendozagonzlez prevents a body shot from Saki.
Saki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Mendozagonzlez walks away with a smile on his face. Saki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mendozagonzlez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Saki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Mendozagonzlez regains half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Saki connects with a nice short shot to Mendozagonzlez's temple.
Mendozagonzlez wants to get back to full guard.
Mendozagonzlez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendozagonzlez wants to control but Saki is keeping busy.

Saki seems to be working for a kimura but Mendozagonzlez defends the submission attempt.
Mendozagonzlez trying to control but Saki postures up.
Mendozagonzlez taking some punishment here, with Saki in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saki controlling the pace.
Mendozagonzlez is looking for a sweep. Saki is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Saki is thwarting Mendozagonzlez's attempts to control the position.

Saki stands up and beckons Mendozagonzlez to join him on the feet.
Saki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Saki stands up from half guard.
Mendozagonzlez moves out of range of the leg kick from Saki.
Saki tries to bum rush Mendozagonzlez with a series of wild strikes but Mendozagonzlez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Mendozagonzlez shoots in for a takedown but Saki shows good takedown defense.

Saki fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mendozagonzlez sprawls well initially but Saki persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Saki is looking for a kimura here.
Saki perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saki escapes and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Saki scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Saki trying to control the action but Mendozagonzlez is working from the bottom.
Mendozagonzlez tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mendozagonzlez manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Joey Mendozagonzlez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ryan Saki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mendozagonzlez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Saki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Saki has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Ryan Saki!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Ryan Saki!
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight for Ryan Saki!

Ryan Saki wins by unanimous decision!